Method and apparatus for creating video game and entertainment demonstrations with full preview and/or other features

Abstract

A computer system creates video game and movie demonstrations aids in the creation of viewable and/or playable demonstration software and storage media. Features include saving projects for demo purposes, previewing demos, previewing demo contents before creation on the final target, statistical data readouts, and directory structure updating and tracking.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of creating an entertainment presentation for use on a video game playing platform, said method comprising:
 including and selecting resources comprising executable playable video game segments and reproducible movie clips for inclusion in said presentation; 
 providing a menu driven user interface allowing an author to individually select and preview any or all of included said resources including said executable playable video game segments and said movie clips without first creating an integrated image; 
 after said previewing, then building an integrated image including said executable playable video game segments for play on a video game playing platform and said movie clips resources converted into one or more formats for reproduction on the video game playing platform; and 
 delivering said integrated image to said video game playing platform for playing by end users. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said resources include audio clips. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein said delivering includes storing said integrated image on a portable mass storage device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further including defining the project including opening and adding to a pre-existing project. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further including applying global and local settings. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further including logging and maintaining statistics. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further including automatically converting resources for inclusion in the integrated image. 
     
     
       8. An authoring station for creating an entertainment demonstration presentation for viewing on a video game playing platform, said authoring station comprising:
 a resource file manager executed by at least one processor for defining a project and including and selecting resources including executable playable video game segments and movie clips within said project for inclusion in said demonstration presentation; 
 a menu driven preview utility executed by said at least one processor that allows an author to individually preview any or all of included said resources including said executable playable video game segments and said movie clips without building a demonstration integrated image; and 
 a build image utility executed by said at least one processor that after preview, then builds a demonstration integrated image for play on a video game playing platform by converting said executable playable video game segments and said movie clips for play on said video game playing platform. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein said resources include audio clips. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8  further including a storage device that stores said integrated image on a portable mass storage device for delivery to said viewing platform. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  wherein said defining resource file manager allows a user to open and add to a pre-existing project. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8  further including a manager that applies global and local settings. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8  further including a statistics logger. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8  further including a conversion utility that automatically converts resources for inclusion on said integrated image.